Contact point for connecting a flat conductor to a conductor element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10027077-B2
Application number	US-201715432349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2017
Priority date	Feb 26, 2016
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A contact point for establishing a connection to a conductor element according to the present disclosure comprises a flat conductor having first and second ends, and a contact element connected to the flat conductor in a terminal area of the flat conductor, wherein the contact element is also configured to connect to the conductor element. The contact point comprises a multi-shell housing attached to the flat conductor and configured to cover the contact element and the terminal area. The housing comprises at least three openings, wherein first and second openings enable passage of first and second ends of the flat conductor, and a third opening enables passage of the conductor element. A gasket is attached to at least one of the openings for sealing the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A contact point assembly for establishing a connection to a conductor element, the contact point assembly comprising:
a substantially-rectangular flat conductor formed of solid conductive material and having first and second ends, a flat lateral side extending along a length of the substantially-rectangular flat conductor, and a terminal area;
a contact element connected to the flat lateral side of the flat conductor in the terminal area of the flat conductor, wherein the contact element is also configured to connect to the conductor element;
a housing attached to the flat conductor and configured to cover the contact element and the terminal area, the housing comprising:
a first opening enabling passage of the first end of the flat conductor;
a second opening enabling passage of the second end of the flat conductor; and
a third opening enabling passage of the conductor element;

a gasket attached to at least one of the openings for sealing the housing; and
a fuse connecting the contact element and the conductor element, wherein the housing is configured to cover the fuse.

2. The contact point assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flat conductor is enveloped in a layer of insulation.

3. The contact point assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a dehumidifying port in the area of the fuse.

4. The contact point assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a drip rim directed downwardly when installed.

5. The contact point assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the fuse is detachably connected to the contact element and the conductor element.

6. The contact point assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the fuse is detachably connected via screw connections.

7. The contact point assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises female profiles on an inner side, the female profiles configured to align at least one of the fuse or the screw connections.

8. The contact point assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the gasket is produced with the housing in a two-component injection molding process.

9. The contact point assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is a multi-shell housing comprising at least two interconnectable shells.

10. The contact point assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the shells at least partially overlap when interconnected.

11. The contact point assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the shells are interconnected by a latch connection.

12. The contact point assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the shells are interconnected by a plurality of latch connections on respective sides of at least one of the flat conductor or the contact element.

13. A contact point assembly for establishing an electrical connection to a conductor element, the contact point assembly comprising:
a flat conductor having first and second ends;
a contact element connected to the flat conductor in a terminal area of the flat conductor;
a fuse connecting the contact element and the conductor element;
a multi-shell housing attached to the flat conductor and configured to cover the contact element, the terminal area, the fuse, and at least a portion of the conductor element, the housing comprising:
a first opening enabling passage of the first end of the flat conductor at the terminal area;
a second opening enabling passage of the second end of the flat conductor at the terminal area; and
a third opening enabling passage of the conductor; and

a gasket attached to at least one of the openings for sealing the multi-shell housing.

14. The contact point assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises fiberglass-reinforced polyamide, and the gasket comprises thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM).

15. The contact point assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises a dehumidifying port in the area of the fuse.

16. The contact point assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises an upper shell and a lower shell, the shells at least partially overlapping when interconnected.

17. The contact point assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the shells are interconnected by a plurality of latch connections on respective sides of at least one of the flat conductor or the contact element.

18. The contact point assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the gasket is attached to the third opening, the gasket comprising two U-shaped sealing rings configured to provide overlapping sealing zones.

19. The contact point assembly according to claim 18 , wherein a first of the two U-shaped sealing rings is attached to the upper shell and a second of the two U-shaped sealing rings is attached to the lower shell.

Assignees

• Draexlmaier Lisa Gmbh

Inventors

• Niedermeier Benedikt
• Wimmer Wolfgang

Classifications

• H01R13/506

  assembled by snap action of the parts · CPC title

• H01R25/142 Primary

  Their counterparts · CPC title

• H01R13/5221

  having cable sealing means · CPC title

• H01R13/68

  with built-in fuse · CPC title

• H01R11/05 Primary

  the connecting locations having different types of direct connections · CPC title